Bronx, NY—Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, in association with SAL ABBATIELLO of Fever Records, is proud to present HIP HOP FEVER on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 8pm. In the early 1970’s, the hip hop musical genre was born in the neighborhoods of the South Bronx. The HIP HOP FEVER 2024 concert will feature performances by Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio “The Message”, Sugar Hill Gang “Rapper’s Delight”, Brand Nubian “One For All”, Force MD’s “Tender Love”, Nice & Smooth “Hip Hop Junkies”, Black Sheep “The Choice Is Yours”, The Fearless Four “Rockin It”, Peter Gunz “Déjà Vu”, Mc Shan “The Bridge”, Sweet G “Games People Play”, Grandmaster Caz Of The Cold Crush Brothers. Hosted by Bugsy Buggs and Sal Abbatiello. Music by Funk Flex, Grand Wizard Theodore, Dj Hollywood.
SAL ABBATIELLO, one of the pioneers of Hip Hop, discovered many rappers and DJs such as Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow and Run-D.M.C. at the legendary night club Disco Fever. Abbatiello’s Bronx Latin dance club, The Devil’s Nest, is where Latin Hip Hop was born and is now called Freestyle. There he discovered Little Louie Vega, TKA, The Cover Girls, Lisette Melendez and many more.
GRANDMASTER MELLE MEL & SCORPIO are two of the original members of the iconic hip hop group Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. Composed of one DJ (Grandmaster Flash) and five rappers (Melle Mel, The Kidd Creole, Keef Cowboy, Mr. Ness/Scorpio, and Rahiem), the group’s use of turntablism, break-beat deejaying, and conscious lyricism was significant in the early development of hip hop music. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s classics include “Superrappin’” (1979), “Freedom”, “Birthday Party” (both 1980), and “The Message” which went Platinum in under a month and became the first Hip Hop record inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2007, they became the first Rap/Hip Hop group inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
THE SUGARHILL GANG inaugurated the history of recorded Hip Hop with the single “Rapper’s Delight,” a Multi-Platinum-seller and radio hit recorded in 1979 by NY rappers Master Gee, Wonder Mike and Big Bank Hank which sold more than eight million copies. In 1981, the group performed the hit title track of their second album, 8th Wonder, along with their hit single “Apache,” on the TV show Soul Train. In 2014 “Rapper’s Delight” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the following year Rolling Stone Magazine listed it as the #2 Greatest Rap Song of All Time.
NICE ‘N SMOOTH is a Bronx, New York hip hop duo known for their humorous rhymes and catchy hooks. Comprised of “Greg Nice ” Mays and Darryl “Smooth B” Barnes, plus DJ Teddy Tedd, they had their first big break as guests on Big Daddy Kane’s 1989 single “Pimpin Ain’t Easy”. That same year they released their debut self-titled album which contained the singles “Early to Rise ” and “Funky for You”. Nice ‘N Smooth achieved radio fame with the song “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow” from their 1991 album Ain’t a Damn Thing Changed, which also contained the popular MTV single “Hip-Hop Junkies”.
BLACK SHEEP is a hip hop duo known for their witty lyrics and unique rhythms composed of Andres “Dres” Vargas and William “Mista Lawnge” McLean, both native New Yorkers from Queens, They debuted in 1991 with the hit song “Flavor of the Month” from their album A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, which went gold and reached #15 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop album chart. A second single from that album, “The Choice Is Yours”, rose to the #1 spot on the Hot Rap Singles chart and was honored by VH1 in 2008 as #73 of the 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs.
THE FEARLESS FOUR, is an old school hip hop group from Harlem .The group is best known for its single “Rockin’ It”. What began as a four member group grew to include The Great Peso, Devastating Tito, Mighty Mike C, Krazy Eddie, DLB, and Master OC. The group went on to sign with major label Elektra Records, and release the album, “Creepin’ up on Ya”.
PETER GUNZ, a Bronx native, known for his platinum record “Deja Vu” (Uptown Baby), which peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. He worked closely as a duo group with Lord Tariq, releasing several hits together.
SWEET G, is a New York rapper who is known for his single “Games People Play”, released on Fever Records in 1983. The hit song peaked at #60 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music\Club Play Singles chart and was played at every radio station in New York.
Also performing will be BRAND NUBIAN, GRANDMASTER CAZ, MC SHAN, and FORCE MD’S.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. is supported, in part, by public funds through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and the Bronx Delegation. Additional funding is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. We are thrilled to share that Goya Foods has agreed to renew their sponsorship for this season which will help Lehman Center expand our reach to the community. In addition we have secured funding from the Howard Gillman foundation to help grow our programming. The 2024 season is also made possible through sponsorships by Con Edison, Havana Café, Friends of Lehman Center, and our cherished audience members.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for HIP HOP FEVER on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 8pm (VIP $70, $65, $60, $45, $40) can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 (Monday through Friday, 10am–5pm, and beginning at 4pm on the day of the concert), or through online access at https://www.lehmancenter.org/events/old-hip-hop. Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway.
